A healthy 25-year-old male with no significant past medical history presented to a rural clinic with sudden-onset, sharp right-sided chest pain that began earlier in the day while walking. The pain was pleuritic, but he denied shortness of breath, fever, trauma, or recent illness. On physical exam, his vitals were normal, lung sounds were clear bilaterally, and there was no chest wall tenderness or crepitus. An EKG was performed and found to be normal. With no chest X-ray available onsite, the provider performed a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the lungs.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can dramatically shift diagnosis and management in primary care—especially for patients with urinary symptoms and flank pain. In this podcast, we walk through a case where POCUS revealed moderate hydronephrosis and changed the plan from outpatient antibiotics to urgent ED referral for an obstructing infected stone. If you’re a primary or urgent care provider, incorporating POCUS into your workflow can help you catch high-risk cases sooner, avoid delays, and elevate the quality of care.

A 72-year-old man with urinary retention was diagnosed in seconds using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in a primary care clinic, avoiding an ED visit. This case review highlights how bladder scanning—with or without AI—quickly measures post-void residual volume, guides catheterization decisions, and improves patient outcomes. Includes technique tips, evidence, and cost-savings data.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) delivers major financial benefits in value-based care beyond billing. From reducing ED transfers and unnecessary imaging to improving patient retention, quality metrics, and provider satisfaction, POCUS strengthens margins under shared savings, capitation, and case-rate models. Learn how this in-house diagnostic tool cuts costs, boosts efficiency, and gives practices a competitive edge.

POCUS is transforming bedside care, but successful adoption requires more than enthusiasm. It needs a clear strategy focused on compliance, credentialing, and quality assurance. Read on to learn more.

Quickly distinguish uncomplicated pyelonephritis from an infected obstructing stone in primary care using bedside POCUS. Learn how renal ultrasound speeds diagnosis, cuts radiation and costs, and improves patient outcomes.

A 33-year-old athlete came in with a swollen axilla. Was it an abscess needing I&D—or just cellulitis? With POCUS, the provider quickly ruled out a drainable collection and avoided an unnecessary procedure.

This case shows how POCUS can improve accuracy, reduce risk, and guide smart decisions in primary care.

A routine primary care visit for vague abdominal pain turned into a life-saving intervention when point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) identified a 6.4 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The timely diagnosis led to immediate referral for CT and vascular surgery, potentially preventing a fatal rupture and avoiding the significant costs of emergent care. This case highlights how integrating POCUS into outpatient settings can dramatically improve patient outcomes while reducing downstream healthcare costs.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape the future of healthcare, its integration with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is opening new possibilities in urgent care. From guiding probe placement to assisting with image interpretation, AI is making ultrasound more accessible, consistent, and confidence-building—especially for new learners and busy clinicians. This article, originally published in Urgent Caring, explores how AI is being used in real-world urgent care settings and what it means for the future of bedside diagnostics.